Pyrophoric lighter



y 15, 1952 M. M. LEVENE 2,603,075

PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Filed May 15, 1950 2 smzms smam 1 2 2 l FM J y 1952 M. M. LEVENE' 2,603,075

PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Filed May 13, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 3/ U T I 1' fi H93 9 f lg. 6

fig. 7

Patented July 15, 1952 PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Meyer Maximilian Levene, Uplowman, near Tiverton, England Applicatio May 13, 1950', s'eria1No. 161,759 In- Great Britain May 20, 1949 9 Claims.

This invention relates to pyrophoriclighte'rs of the kind in which an abrasive or flint wheel strikes a, flint to make a spark. 7

According to this invention I provide a pyrophoric lighter of the type described comprising a casing, a flint holder mounted for free rotation in the casing and adapted to receive a flint, a

spring pressed flint follower adapted to move longitudinally in the flint holder, means for rotating the flint holder and means for causing the flint follower to rotate with the flint holder.

Preferably the means for causing the flint follower to rotate with the flint holder comprises one or more pips or projections on the flint follower adapted to engage one or more longitudinal slots or grooves in the flint holder.

Further according to the invention I provide means for anchoring the rear end of the flint follower and spring assembly.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw ngs, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the general assemblyof a lighter made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of the lighter;

Fig. 3 is a section taken through line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4. is a section taken through line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the flint tube showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of Fig. 5'; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the end" can spring and flint follower used in connection with: the flint tube shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the lighter comprises a casing I having a hingedcap 2 which in the closed position covers the" flint wheel 3, flint 4, and wick 5. The flint wheel is rotated by means of a thumb wheel 6. A flint tube 1 is horizontally arranged in a bearing block 8 and is provided towards its forward end with a ratchet wheel 9. The flint-tubeis provided with twov longitudinal grooves l and an aperture H towards its forward end, for clarity of illustration the grooves I0 and the aperture II are shown in the same plane. A flint follower I2 with a sharp broadenedforward end is arranged in the flint tube 1 and lateral projections l3 are adapted to engage the grooves [0 so ast'o ensure that the flint follower l2 rotates-with the tube 1. A spring I4 is arranged in theflint tube at the back of the flint follower and secured to a rearwardly projecting knob The rear end of. the spring It bears against the'end. plug l6. The end plug it has a flanged face II which normally lies flush with the rear side of the casing I. The end plug I6 is provided with a slidable sleeve I8, mounted in a bearing block. IS, the forward end of the sleeve engaging over the tube 1. The coil spring l4 tends to push theflint follower l2 into contact with the flint 4 to press it towards the flint wheel. The spring also tends to push the end plug l8 out and means are provided for holding the sleeve 18 in its inward position.

These means are illustrated in Fig. 4.

A slidable stop 2| has a lateral projection 22 adapted to engage an annular groove 23 in the sliding sleeve [8. A light coil spring 24 tends to push the stop 2! outwards and to retain the projection 22 in the annular groove 23. When it is desired to release the projection 22 from the annular groove 23 the stop is pressed against the spring 24 and the projection 22 disengages the annular groove 23.

The flint tube 1 is adapted to be rotated as the cap 2 is opened. This is done by means of the ratchet wheel 9 which is engaged by a pawl 21 pivoted inside the cap 2. A coil spring 29 returns the pawl to its normal position after the ratchet 9 has been moved.

In use the cap 2 is raised and in raising the cap the ratchet wheel 9 is rotated thereby rotating the flinttube 1 together with the flint follower 12 which presses up against the flint 4 so that the flint 4 is rotated with the flint tube 1. The thumb wheel 6 is then rotated carrying with it the flint wheel 3 which forms a spark with the flint 4. When the lighter has been used the cap is closed. Alternatively the flint tube can be rotated when the cap is closed by reversing the pawl and the cutting teeth of the ratchet wheel so that they will operate in the opposite direction.

In order to renew the flint 4 the stop 2| is manually pressed so that the projection 22 disengages the groove 23. The spring l4 pushes the end plug I6 and its associated sleeve H3 outwards. Thereafter the flange I! can be grasped by fingers and, the associated parts, i. e. the sleeve 18, the spring I 4 and. the flint follower I2 can be retracted to provide a space between a partially used flint and the flint follower. Then, as may be understood from Fig. l, the cover 2 can be raised to give accessto the aperture II and to permit a new flintto be inserted, through said aperture, into the tube 1 in front of the flint follower l2 and behind the remainder of the oldworn down flint. The sleeve I8 is then pushed backinto the casing until the projection 22 engages the groove 23 and the endfaoe ll is flush with the casing 1. At this point the flint follower l2 has pushed the flint 4 up against the flint wheel 3. As the end surface ofthe flint wears down evenly'the flint can be used. until it is very thin. In this case the projections [3 on the follower l2 come up against the endof the grooves I0 and prevent theflint follower I2 from jamming the flint wheel 3.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and '7 of the drawings the slidingsleeve [8 is dispensed with and the flint tube 1 extended to the rear of the casing. The flint tube is shown in Fig. 5. It" is provided with alongitudinal slot' H) which extends from a point near the forward end of the tube I4 is secured to the end cap or plug 32, which is provided with a lateral locking pin 33, which is adapted to engage the lateral recess 3| in the longitudinal slot ID in the maner of a bayonet joint. Alternatively more than one pin is proto present diiferent lines of contact of the flint.

at its said endfwith the periphery of the abrasive wheel, in successive operations of the light er; the said flint holder restraining means comprising a spring-pressed flint follower adapted to move longitudinally in the flint holder, the

'latter and said follower having inter-engaging portions constraining the two to rotate together.

vided on the end cap and corresponding slots.

provided in the flint holder. The locking. pin 33 on the plug is offset to an angle of about 30 to 90 with the projection |3 on the flint follower so that when it is positioned in the tube 1 there is a slight torque in the spring I4 sufficient to keep the locking pin 33 in the lateral recess 3|. The back 34 of the .end cap or plug 32 may or may not vbeflush. with the outer surface of the casing.

In use, in order to put a new flint into the lighter, the plug 32 at the rear end of the spring M is turned in an. anti-clockwise direction so as to disengage the locking, pin 33 from the recess 3| in the slot.' The plug32, spring l4 and flint follower' l2 can be completely withdrawn from the tube 1. The old flint can be removed and a new flint inserted. The flint follower l2, spring l4 and plug 32 are re-inserted into the tube 1 so that the projection |3 on the flint follower |2 engages the longitudinal slot ID in the tube and the plug 32 is pushed until resistance is felt; The plug 32 is then turned slightly in an anti-clockwise direction until the locking pin 33 slides into the longitudinal groove l and the torque action of the spring M will cause the pin 33 to engage the lateral recess 3| in the slot. The plug 'or cap 32 can also be operated in the reverse or clockwise direction in which case the lateral recess 3| is provided on theopposite side of the slot l0. Instead of the bayonetjoint arrangement the plug 32 may be screw-threaded and adapted to engage an internal thread on the flint tube.

Instead of having the grooves H) in the'flint tube I they can be formed as slots or dispensed with altogether in which case the flint tube can be square or any other polygonal shape in cross section. The flint follower in such case is similarly shaped so as to ensure that the flint follower moves with the flinttube. The flint may be of any shape.

Instead of rotatingthe flint tube by means of a pawl 21 in the cap 2 it can be rotated when the flint wheel 3 is rotated through a suitable gear from the thumb wheel 6 or the pillar on which the flint wheel is mounted.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination comprising a casing, a tubular flint holder having a circumferential driving portion and being carried by the casing for rotation about the holders central longitudinal axis, mean coacting non-yieldably with the flint holder for constraining a flint held by the latter to rotate coaxially therewith, means for restraining the flint holder against material movement other than said rotational movement, an abrasive wheel carried by the casing in position for its periphery to sparkingly engage an adjacent end of a flint thus held by the flint holder, and a manually movable flint holder rotating member carried by the casing and having a portion thereon adapted, upon movement of said member, to engage said driving portion of theflint holder to thus rotate the "latter and a flint held thereby 2. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination according to claim 1 further characterized in that the flint holder is formed with at least one longitudinally extending recess and the flint follower is formed with a projection extending slidably into said recess and constraining the flint follower to rotate with the flint holder.

3. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination according to clairn-1 further including means associated withthe casing and coacting with the flint follower for limiting the latters movement toward the abrasive wheel whereby to prevent the flint follower from engaging the abrasive wheel when-a flint in the device has worn down.

4. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination according to claim 3 wherein the means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the flint follower comprises a stop at the forward end of the longitudinal recess in the flint holder.

5. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination according to claim 1 further including a coil spring in the flint holder behind the flint follower and a plug associated with the flint holder and disposed behindthe coil-spring; the forward end of the coil spring bearing against the rear end of the flint follower and the rear end of the coil spring bearing against said plug; the plug being movable relatively to the flint holder to permit renewal of the flint in said holder.

6. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination according to claim 5 the said plug having an integral sleeve slidably associated with the flint holder; the said combination further including means for holding the plug in closed position against the action of the coil spring.

7. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination according to claim 1 wherein the flint holder is formed with ,a lateral aperture for the introduction of a flint.

8. In a pyrophoric lighter, the combination according to claim 5 further including bayonet joint connection means associated with the flint holder andthe plug for releasably holding the two interconnected; further characterized in that the coil spring is 'flxed at'its ends to the said flint follower and the said plug.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name v Date I 1,027,900 ,Ramsdell May 28, 1912 1,464,203 Hutchinson ,Aug. 7, 1923 1,762,281 fStecker' June 10, 1930 p FOREIGNEPATENTS- Number O ountry I Date 917,306- Q-France' Sept. 9, 1946 297,188 L G reat B ritain- 1- Sept. 20, 1928 

